LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 199

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

PROGRAM AND FINANCE 199

Wuereas, “Live streaming audio” now énables people any-
where in the world to listen to both stations live on the Internet at
www.kfuo.org and www.classic99.com; and

WHEREAS, Both the AM and FM radio stations are assets owned
by the Synod and are now becoming even more valuable for the
spread of the Gospel around the world; and

WHEREAS, It would not be wise to sell assets just when they are
beginning to bring even more opportunities to proclaim the Gospel
to a broader, truly worldwide audience; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod not sell either radio station; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention instruct the Board for
Communication Services to do everything necessary to make even
greater use of both stations in the spread of the Gospel.

Board of Directors
Southern Illinois District

4-23

To Return Operation of KFUO to Concordia Seminary

Whereas, KFUO was founded by faculty members of Concor-
dia Seminary, St. Louis, including the widely esteemed Walter A.
Maier, the first Lutheran Hour speaker, in 1924; and

WuerEAS, KFUO broadcast the dedication and laying of the
comerstone of the Clayton campus of Concordia Seminary, which
broadcast included sermons in German and Latin heard by many
throughout the United States; and

WuerEas, KFUO is the longest continually operating Christian
radio station in the world; and

WHEREAS, Several generations of future pastors were given the
opportunity to learn how to use radio and other media i in their min-
istries while working at KFUO; and

WHEREAS, KFUO continues to be operated from its studios lo-
cated on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and

WuereaS, Both KFUO and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, are
committed to using advances in communications technology to ex-
tend their ministries around the world for the sake of the procla-
mation of the Gospel and the teaching of sound Lutheran theology;
and

Whereas, While KFUO was placed under the direction of the
Board for Communication Services when the latter was formed in
1983, its budget was not incorporated into the Synod’s general bud-
get until 1990; and

WHEREAS, Changes in the accounting practices of the Synod in
recent years have allocated to KFUO costs not specific to operating
the radio stations and have subsequently led to deficits in the sta-
tion’s budgets; and

Wuereas, Both the Synod in convention and an independent
review of KFUO’s ministry by the LCMS Board of Directors have
recognized that KFUO plays a valuable role in the missional ef-
forts of the Synod through its broadcasts in the St. Louis commu-
nity and by its streaming on the Internet worldwide; and

Wuereas, The faculty and administration of Concordia Semi-
nary, St. Louis, have expressed an interest in maintaining and sup-
porting KFUO as a resource for both outreach, discipleship educa-
tion, and the training and equipping of pastors to use media in the
mission of their congregations; and

Whereas, An initial assessment by Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, has suggested that it may be possible for the seminary to op-
erate the stations in a cost-effective manner; and

WHEREAS, The operation of the KFUO-AM and KFUO-FM by
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, would both continue this valuable
Gospel outreach and enhance the profile of Concordia Seminary in
the St. Louis community; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod continue to give thanks to God for the
ministry of KFUO, past and present; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod request Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine whether it

can operate KFUO in a cost-effective manner and to report the re-
sults of this evaluation to Synod’s Board of Directors and the Board
for Communication Services by Jan. 1, 2008; and be it finally

Resolved, That, if Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, concludes
that it can operate KFUO in a cost-effective manner, the operation
of the KFUO stations shall be transferred from Synod’s Board for
Communication Services to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, not
later than July 1, 2008.

Faculty
Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, MO

4-24

To Continue Synod Support of KFUO

WHEREAS, KFUO radio is the longest-running continuously op-
erated religious radio station in the world, having an unparalleled
history in bringing Christ to the nations; and

WHEREAS, KFUO radio serves a vital role in the technology of
broadcasting the seeds of God’s Word to the world locally, nation-
ally, and internationally; and

WuEREAS, KFUO radio almost always has been a financially
self-sustaining ministry until such circumstances as the disruption
of advertising income after 9/11, as well as major changes in the
Synod’s fund-raising policies and accounting practices, contributed
to an unbalanced budget; and

WuerEAS, The Board for Communication Services has imple-
mented policies and procedures during its current term geared to
returning KFUO radio to a balanced budget, restoring its ability to
be self-supporting, and renewing its dedication to the proclamation
of Law and Gospel; and

WuereEAS, The loss of KFUO radio would create a huge gap in
Synod’s communication outreach capabilities, a gap that could not
be filled by the monies gained through the sale of the licenses; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Communication Services has sup-
ported the continued updating of technologies at KFUO, such as
podcasting, streaming Internet, satellite broadcasts, and nationally
syndicated programs, thus expanding its worldwide capabilities as
the flagship of Synod for communicating the Gospel through the
use of these God-given technologies; therefore be it

Resolved, That KFUO continue to serve as the Synod’s local,
national, and international presence through broadcast media; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention, by passing this resolu-
tion, affirm its continued support of KFUO radio with prayers,
gifts, and bequests to the glory of God.

Board for Communication Services

4-25

To Support Ministry of KFUO AM and FM Radio

WHEREAS, KFUO radio has been an active ministry of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod since its first broadcast from
the campus of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1924, the longest
continually operating Christian radio station in the world; and

WHEREAS, KFUO radio, while a property held by the Synod,
has been supported almost entirely by KFUO’s local broadcast
community of St. Louis, Missouri, and Illinois, resulting in the
need for little financial support from the Synod and an understand-
able vested interest in KFUO’s unique ministry by the local com-
munity; and

WHEREAS, KFUO AM (for 83 years) and FM (for 60 years) to-
gether continue to provide a combined ministry that broadcasts the
saving Gospel according to clear Lutheran theology while also pro-
moting that Gospel and accompanying Christian virtues and the
fine arts through the language of classical music; and

WueReAS, Few if any other Christian church bodies are blessed
with ownership of a radio station and its powerful potential for